We've heard of an embarrassment of riches, right? Today, it's just a wealth of embarrassments as far as the eye can see.

Take US Vice President Joe Biden. I know Joe. I like Joe -- hell, I love Joe.

But come on.

David Sharp (AP) quotes
Joe declaring today that "they [the Islamic State] should know we will
follow them to the gates of hell until they are brought to justice.
Because hell is where they'll reside."

Now look, if Joe wants to visit Dick and Lynne Cheney, that's his
business and right, but leave out all this "we" stuff because the bulk
of us have no desire to go to hell and visit the Cheneys.

On a more serious note, it has to be asked, "At the gates of hell, what will you be doing, Joe?"

Lawyering up?

I ask because you could have served in Vietnam. Unlike many women and
men (including me), you didn't oppose the war so, being a man, you could
have served in combat.

You didn't.

You weren't even a photographer like Al Gore.

So at the gates of hell, what exactly are you able to do?

For your own safety, Joe, you need to ask that question.

For others also.

Always a lot of male bragging, very little actual male bravery.

Take "Ali." He's an Iraqi soldier -- one Human Rights Watch trusted.

I wouldn't trust him.

His unit made the mistake of trusting him, he's alive and they're dead.

Let's get bravery clear, a young girl, Anne Frank, living in hiding is
brave. Anne had no gun, Anne had no combat training, she was not part
of a military unit.

You may call someone with a gun and training who refuses to use both to
take out the enemy or attempt to save those he or she was serving with
"lucky" (you might not) but most people wouldn't repeat the story.

Most people would realize they look a little weak and cowardly.

I don't believe in war and if Ali put down his gun in protest of death
and destruction, I'd be the first to applaud him for that.

But that didn't happen, did it?

Ali was and remains pro-war. He's willing for the fighting to continue.

But, as we've now learned, when push comes to shove, he'll pretend to be
dead while his unit is shot and killed. He'll save his own life by
refusing to risk it to help out his comrades.

I don't know why you'd trust a word out of the mouth of Ali.

Again, give me a Kyle Snyder, a Joshua Key, someone who is opposed to
the war and I'll back them and applaud them. But give me a pro-war man
or woman who, in combat, refuses to defend his or her fellow soldiers?

That's a coward.

And it's a shame his unit didn't know that going into the battle against the Islamic State.